Automatic machine for assembling, in the form of panels, laths and similar elements



AL I ,221 IN THE FORM 0F Jam 28, 1958 M. P. JACQUHER m .AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PANELS, LATHS AND SIMILAR ELEMENTS Filed March 16, 1954 Jan 28, 1958 M. P. JA U15 ET AUTOMATIC MACHINE FoR A ssEMBEING, THE FORM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 PANELS, LATHS AND SIMILAR ELEMENTS Filed March 16, 1954 3 m we 00% H L .l a Mm \w a v xmm IR. wwm m9. b. Na m TQ g Q Aw w 2w 1 a ow mm w I 3 mwmm o.

No Q mm mm mm mm Jan. 28, 1958 M. P. JACQUIER ETAL 2,3

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING, IN THE FORM OF PANELS, LATHS AND SIMILAR ELEMENTS 5' Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 16, 1954 III H Jan. 28, 1958 M. P. JACQUIER ETAL 2,821, AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING, IN THE FORM OF PANELS, LATHS AND SIMILAR ELEMENTS Filed March 16, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 28, 1958 M. P. JACQUIER ETAL 2,821,

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING, IN THE FORM OF PANELS, LATHS AND SIMILAR ELEMENTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 16, 1954 United States Patent- O AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLlNG; IN

THE FORM OF PANELS, LATHS AND SIMILAR... ELEIVIENTS Max; Pierre .lacquier, Paris, Andr Frangois Jacquie];- gucy-en-Bne; 2 and: aFi'ance Huberte Jacquier, Paris,

rance Application March 16, 1954, Serial No. 416,646"

Claims priority, application France March 19, 1953 21 Claims. (Cl. 1449-279) The presentinvention relates to manufacturing. panels formed of the juxtaposition of rows of laths', strips, planks or other squared elements which. have a constant rectangular'or square cross-section and are" composed of woodor other non-friable'material these pane1sbeingused as.such,'in combination with other panels, or in the formation of plywood.

Machines have already been proposed forthe'. massproduction "of suchipanelswhich comprise a receiving and discharging passageway formed of two walls provid--. ing between-themia space equal'torthe thickness of the squared elements, i. e. 'the thickness of the panel to be obtained, and thrust means for moving through, this passageway the squared elements that a feed deviceintrodunes" in "this" passageway row"by rowr' These" "elements receive glue 01170116 of their "lateraliand longitudinally extending-edges and the 'various'rows of elements "are thus glued together.'

In a first type ofknownmachine'the'feed device and-'- the thrust means are combined 'intoone mechanism, the laths or otherelements placedonmechanismbeing first presented 'by. thelatterin front of' the passageway and then pushed against the partof-the panel previously'- formed 'in this passageway;

There is also known a second-type ofmachinehaving a lateral'fe'ed in which a feed device placed -atthe'side" and at the input end'of the passageway feedsthe-succes sive rows one byone by displacing the elements ofi each row in a direction perpendicular to the 'longitudin'aluaxis of the machine along which the work is' moved imthe passageway in the course" of' its formation:

The-machines'of these types arc -usually so' arranged as topermit the production of'a continuous sheet of: roughly assembled elements, the width 'of this sheet-"corresponding to the maximum capacity of=the passageway;

that is its width. The panels are'supplied by the machine. I) in therequired lengths by 'meansiof-a panel sectioning.

device whose operation necessitatesgn'f serious mechanicalcomplications areto beavoided; interruption'in. the feed:-.

ing oi-themachinexand the action 'of the? thrust devicu.

Theqinventionhas for object. toremedythis .serious.

disadvantage and provides animproved machine v which. permits the obtainment in a direct manner at the. output end of the passagewaypanels having finished dimensions that are controllable both in the direction ofthe rows of elements and in thedirection perpendicular totheserows. This machine is simple in construction," automatic"irreperation and requires 'verylittle' attention -'in' 'operation. Panels of very high qualityare'produced ata high rate and at-very low power consumption. There-is'igreat: economy of wood or'other materialhem which the-laths; or elements "are made, for: the: machine-may. be -fedwith elements of any "length? Hence; waste andrejectsare practically eliminated.

This. improved machine -is of the aforementioned ..sec-. ond type. which: comprises in ..combination; areceivin'g. and'discharging passageway; a lateral feed. device for. introducing one by one at the input end of this passage 2,821,221 Patented Jan. 28, 1958 way successive rows of squared elements,- the'se rows-of elements being disposedtransversely of the direction-of feed of the panel, and this=device' including meanstor continuouslyapplying glue to theseelementsfihrust means for moving or feeding each row'introduced together with the work composed of these rows in a longitudinal-db rection withrespect to the passagewaygand driving means including a clutch.

This machine ischaracterised in that: it comprises, in combination with the aforementioned devices: a first .regul'a'ting. device for' determining the" length of the rows; control means for said clutch "associated with this/first regulating. device for engaging the driving meanszfoi" the thrust means when one'row comprising one elementror a plu'rality of elements" disposed end to end has been "obtained:" a second regulating device and shifting means provided on the feed device and controlled by the second regulating deviceffol' separating the: first row of eachjpanel to" be' produced from the gluing means.

By the: aforementioned combination it is possible. to obtain panels' whose dimension in the longitudinal directioniwith respect 'tothe rows may vary as required between the-maxinium widthof the passageway and'a di; mension ofth'etordeiof one orseveraldecimetres: Fur-.1 th'er; in the direction :perpendicular'toxthe rows, that is in' thelongitudinal-direction oftheipassa'geway, the'length of the. panels may beranythingranging from thewidthof onegrowtcrthatofanynumber ofrows."

Tfie 'in'venu'on has for further object to provide 1 the panebprodu'ced'by the aforementioned machine; this panel being formed ofa number'ofjuxtaposed rowsof squared elements; eachrow including one 'or several elements disposed endv to end. These elements are fed toithe machine in any haphazard manner and the various rows are glued together along the entire length of their lateral" edges; The forward 'or' outer edge of. the .first row 'of the panelto issure from the machineincludes, along a shortlength from one ofits endsya portion of glu'ewhich serves'to connect this ;panel'to' the preceding one when it leaves the machine. Themachine is in fact arranged in .such' manner that the workdss'uing there-- from'is'forme'd of a succession of panelsconnected to'-.

gether along a very short length 'ofgtheir adjoining edges;.

Other'features' and advantages of the invention-will be: apparent. from the ensuing description in whiclr'the elements'of the panelsare described as laths; Itsh'ould be understood that the'se-laths may ofrcoursebe replaced by any other squared-elements having a constautcross= section.

In the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example:

Fi'gi l is a longitudinal sectional view perpendicular to the rows of-laths of a portion'ofthe work issuing. from the machine according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view with a portion .cut away,

Fig.3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional'view ofthe machine on line 3+3 of Fig'. 4,"

Fig.1 is a plan .vie'wthereof,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of theportiorrrofthe machineon .the input side of the. latter, i. e. th=POFfi0I1T including, theva'rious mechanisms, the; lateral feed. device. and the thrust means,

Fig.1,6 is an elevational view of-=one ofi-the eccentrics. controllingthethrust means and of a camcontrollingthe. displacement: of ;.thesaw located at the output 1 .end of. the feed device,

. Figxfl a correspondingplan view,

Fig; 8 is a plan viewipartially in section :otthehousing of theadju'stable abutment device adapted oudeternn'nei thelength 'of the rows of laths and of -th= coniugatez switch for controlling the electro-magnetic clutch of the driving means of the machine.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic sectional view of one embodiment of the clutch,

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the feed device on a scale larger than that of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of the second regulating device by means of which it is possible to control the number of rows of laths in each panel. 1

I.Description of the work or panel obtained Reference will be had firstly to Figs. 1 and 2, which show in longitudinal section and in plan a portion of the work obtained from the machine. This work is formed of a succession of panels P, P P each one of which comprises a number of rows of laths (ll for the panel P and 1 for the panel Pg). Each of these rows includes one or several laths, the number of laths per 4 thrust means C. This device E is partly under the control of the driving means D.

Each of these parts will now be described.

a. Stand A.It comprises a lower frame including longitudinally extending side-members 16 which are connected by transverse members 17 and pairs of uprights 18, 19 and 20 (Fig. 5). The uprights 18 and 19 are connected by two upper longitudinally extending bars 21 connected together at the input end of the machine by a transverse member 22. Beams or bolsters are disposed between the other pairs-of uprights; these beams will be described hereinafter with the various devices with which they are combined.

row depending on the length of each successive lath fed to the machine. Thus, as seen in Fig. 2,' the row np is composed of two laths, similar to the preceding row. The third row from the right end of the panel P has only one lath and the following row has two. These laths are disposed end to end. They may be of wood or any other natural or synthetic material (for example, reconstituted wood). The cross-sectional shape of all'the laths or elements is constant and maybe either rectangular or square, the dimension a in the direction'perpendicular to the panels is preferably smaller than the dimension b in the direction parallel to the sides of the panels. 7

As will be understood hereinunder, it is possible to obtain from the machine panels which are identical in thickness a. The dimension 1 along the rows and the dimension 1 perpendicular to the latter may vary from one panel to the other. The dimension 1 may vary between a maximum corresponding to the width of the passageway of the machine and a minimum of one or two decimetres. The dimension .1 may vary between the width b of a single row and the width of any number of combined rows of width b. In each panel the rows are 1 connected together along their adjoining edges by glue 11 that may be of any type but preferably thermo-setting.

At the output end of the machine the, panels hold together on account of a temporary gluing 14 which is applied along a very short length of their adjoining edges 12 and 13 adjacent one of the lateral edges of the panels. The length of gluing 14 is short enough to allow the panels to be easily separated. Each panel includes, then, along its edge 12 traces of glue 14 by means of which it is possible to identify that this panel has been obtained from the machine according to the invention.

II.-Description of the machine The direction from the input side of the machine to the output side thereof represents the direction in which the rows of laths move inside the machine passageway. This direction is from the right to the left in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

The machine comprises five parts:

(a) A stand A. 1

(b) A receiving and discharging passageway B, through which the rows of laths and a part of the work formed of theserows glued together pass before they attain the output end of the machine. l

(c) Abutment and thrust means C, which are disposed at the input end of the passageway B and exert a short sharp thrust on each introduced row after having regulated the length of the latter. The passageway B is adapted to distribute and maintain this thrust over all the I rows contained therein in order to ensure that these rowsare correctly glued together.

(d) Driving means D for driving the thrust means C. (e) A lateral feed device E, whereby the successive rows of laths are introduced in a transverse feed chamber provided between the passageway B and the abutment-and b. Passageway B.--It is symmetrically disposed relative to thelongitudinal vertical plane XX (Fig. 4) of the machine and comprises two horizontal walls or plates so arranged as to provide between their opposing faces a space 23 through which the work or panel in the course of production is displaced in the direction of arrow f (Fig. 3

The lower plate comprises for example the webs 24 of inverted U-section channels 24 which are disposed longitudinally of the machine. These channels are supported on a transverse beam or bolster 25 secured to the uprights 20. At the input side of the passageway the channels 24 rest on another transverse beam 26 the height.

of which is adjustable by means of the screws 27 of jacks 28. Thus the position of the lower plate of the passageway 23 may be adjusted as desired by pivoting it about the support 25. k

.It will be observed that the portion of the passageway adjacent the output end thereof may be heated by means of heating boxes or chambers 29, which are combined with the channels 24 by members 30 connected to the latter. Steam or other heating fluid enters through the pipe 31 and is conducted .through pipes 32 into the chambers 29. Further pipes 33 connect the latter to a col 3 lector 34 for the exhaust of the cooled fluid.

The upper wall of the passageway Bis formed of two parts which are disposed adjacent the input and output sides respectively of the machine. The part adjacent the'inputside comprises plates 35 secured to longitudinallyextending members 36 which are downwardly urged by springs 37 housed between these members 36 and the upper webof, a fixed beam 38 connected to the uprights 19. ,The members 36 carry, slidably mounted in their lower webs, retaining presser plates 40. Springs 41 apply high pressure on thelatter and urge them into the passage 23. The lower faces 42 of these presser plates are beveled on the input side of their surface.

These plates are disposed at suflicient distance from the ends 39 of the members 36 to provide,- between these plates and these ends above the lower plate of the passageway, a transverse space 43 which forms a feed charnber whose width in the longitudinal direction of the machine is greater than the width b of one row of laths (see Fig. l). Each plate 35 includes, furthermore, at the rear of the presser plates 40,- a slope or bevel 35 which aids the introduction of the laths in the passageway B.

Following on the plate 35, the output side of the top of the passagewayB comprises webs 44a of further U-section channels 44 whose ends are supported and connected by' links 45 attached to the members 36. The flanges of the other ends of these channels 44 are connected by a small nel 44 is capable of pivoting about an axis extending transversely of the machine, A spring 30 is interposed between each transverse member 46 and the beam 47 so;

that this transverse'memberand the corresponding, channel 44 is raisable in opposition to spring.

Owing to-this arrangement the Work canleave or enter the passageway B only by slightly'separating the two walls or plates of which it is formed and thus compressing the springs. 37 -and 50. Hence there is created a certain resistance to the displacement of the work and the pressureapplied intermittently by the thrust means C is transmitted to and maintained over all' the rows of laths in this passageway. A

Strips 51 are connected to the channels 44 and form with the latter heating boxes or chambers which resemble square or ractangular-sectioned tubes. The latter receive steam or any other hot fluid from acollector 52 through pipes 53. The cooled fluid is discharged through pipes 54 and a collector 55 7 p c. Thrust means C.Itwill.be recalled that, after a row of laths has beenin troduced in the feed chamber 43 at the input side of the passageway B, the thrust means urge this rowoif laths under the presser plate 40 and. in doingv so urge the preceding rows of laths under the-retaining plates 35.

The thrust means includes a main transverse member 56 which is capable of moving backwards and forwards in a substantially horizontal direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine. This transverse member is connected to the side members 16 of the stand A by two articulated parallelogram units formed of two pairs of long links 57 which are pivoted at 58 to this transverse member and at 59 to the stand. The left hand-sideof the transverse member 56, as seen in Fig. an extended by an angle-iron- 60 whose horizontal flange extends into the passageway B 'where its left hand edge 61 defines one side of the feed chamber 43. v I

On the transverse member 56 two adjustable blocks 62 form a transverse slideway along which a slide 63 is adjustable in position. This slide carries the housing 64 containing the adjustable abutment device, which is adapted to determine the length 1 (Figs. 2 and 4) of the various rows of laths, and a switch device, which is controlled by this abutment device and is adapted to control the engage-. merit and disengagement of the clutch of the driving means D.

In this housing 64 is disposed (Figs. 4 and 8) a first lever 65 which is pivotal about a vertical axis 66 and is disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine. This lever 65 is yieldably held in this position by a spring 67. At the end of this lever, which is disposed outside the housing and projects from the latter in the direction of the feed device E (Fig. 4), there is provided a roller 68 which is freely rotative on its spindle 69 and constitutes the principal stop or abutment for regulating thelength of the rows'of laths.

Behind the lever 65 relative to the direction .of. feed of the laths is disposed, integral withthe housing 64, an auxiliarily fixed stop 70 adapted to limit the pivotal movements of the lever 65 in the direction of arrow f. The actual length l of the row of laths is that obtained when the'lever 65 abuts against the stop 70 (position shown in Fig. 4). Adjustment of the position of the housing. 64 relative to the axis of the machine must therefore be effected when other row lengths are required.

The lever 65 extends beyond the axis 66 and its end.

71 forms a boss which cooperates with another lever 72 which is pivotal about an axis 73 and carries a weight 74 at'its end distant from its point of contact with the lever lever. 65 is displaced evento the full extent. of. its travel by a low-powered thrust (due to the impact of. a lath; pushed into the feed chamber 43), thisdisplacement, on account of the inertia of the weight 74 and the action of: the return spring 75, fails to urge the lever 73v sufiiciently in the direction of arrow f to close the switch 1 Furthermore, only the conjugate action of the. total. impact on the abutment 6810f a row of laths without gaps therebetween and the thrust exerted on this row by. the feed device is suificient to furnish the energy necessary to cause the lever 72' to pivot sufliciently to closev the switch P, in which case-the 1e'ver72 leaves the end 71 of the lever 65 under the action of the kinetic energy of. the weight 74'.-

d. Driving means D(Figs 3, 4, 6 and 7)'.--It'.in cludes a cross shaft rotatably mounted in bearings 81 secured to therear transverse member 22. This shaft is capable of being rotated through no more than 360. in the direction. of arrow f (Figs. 3 and 6) by motiv e'means here in the form of anelectric motor 82 which is carried by the stand A and is connected by a pulley 83 and a belt '84' to a flywheel-pulley 85. This flywheel is freely rotative on the shaft 80 with which it may be engaged by means of a clutch controlled by the switch I of the thrust means C.

The clutch mechanism. is of conventional type-and is diagrammaticallyrepresented in Figs. 3, 4, and 9. Keyed on shaft 8'0 and disposed adjacent the pulley 85, is .a. clutch plate 86 provided with a peripheral groove 87 in which extends .even in the engaged position of theclutch' (Fig. 9), a block or shoe 88 which is integral withia clutchlocking pin 89. The latter is U-shaped, is movable in the plate 86 and is urged by a spring 90 in the direction. of arrow i In the engaged position of theclutch, theblock 88 is caused by this spring to engage partially in a recess 91 whereas the end of the other branch of the U is engaged in a groove 92 which is concentric with the axis of the shaft 80 and is provided in the adjacent face of the flywheel 85. An abutment 93 is provided across this grove so that in the engaged position of the clutch theflywheel 85 encounters the end of the pin 89 and thus causes the shaft 80 to rotate.

The clutch is disengaged by shifting back or with? drawing the pin 89 by means of a clutch disengaging lever 94 which slides back the block 91. The lever is irategral with a shaft 95 journalled in the housing. A spring 96- tends to cause it to pivot in the direction of arrow 9" and thus permit engagement of the clutch. It is held in the position of clutch disengagement by a rod 97 which. is pivoted thereto at 98 (Fig. 3) and includes a block 99 that cooperates with a locking abutment 100 carried by the machine stand A. The lever 94- can only withdraw from the block 88 and thuspermit clutch engagement when the rod 97 is raised in the direction of arrow i (Fig. 3) by the electromagnet 101 whose feed circuit is is controlled by the switch I In order to re-engage the lever 94 with the block 88 at the end of the travel of the thrust means C inthe direction of arrow f a crank 102 is provided secured to the shaft 95 of the clutch disengaging lever 94. The. end of this crank 102 cooperates wtih' a yieldable stop 103 which is carried by a rod 104 secured to the transverse member 56 of the thrust means C.

This clutch engaging and disengaging mechanism operates in the following manner:

In the disengaged clutch position (Figs. 3 and 4) the lockingv pin 89 is withdrawn from the flywheel 85, since its block 88 is in contact with the lever 94-which-is locked in position by the rod 97.

When the switch I is closed, the. electromagnet'illll is? energized, the rod 97 is raised and the spring 96 with-"1 draws the lever 94 from the block 88. The-spring 90 returns the locking pin 89 so'that it extends oncemore into the groove 92 and the abutment 92 of the flywheel" 85 thereafter-drives the pin 89 and causes theshaft 80 to be rotatedinthe direction of the arrow f When, at the end ofthe travel of the thrust means C in the direction of the arrow F, the stop 103 cucounters the crank 102, the lever 94 resumes its position of clutch disengagement and withdraws the locking pin 89 from the flywheel 85, and the rod 97 is once moreheld by. the block 99 which engage behind the abutment 100.

' The driving means D is connectedto the thrust means C by parallel couplings including connecting rods and eccentrics. Eccentric plates 105 are keyed to the shaft 80. On each of these plates is mounted an eccentric strap 106 integral with a connecting rod 107. Each rod,

107 carries at its other end a pin 108 which carries two freely rotative rollers 109. The latter are capable of engaging in the downward direction two hooks 110 connected tothe side of the transverse member 56 of the thrust means C. f

It will be easily understood that onerotation through 360 of the shaft 80 in the direction of arrow f (Figs. 6 and 7) causes the thrust means C to move firstly in the direction of arrow i and then in the opposite direction. The throw e of the eccentrics is so chosen that this movement is sufficient to move the edge 61 of the angle iron 60 of the thrust means C through a distance which is at least equal to the distance g between this edge 61 and the adjacent edges of the presser plates 40 of the passageway B.

Each eccentric device is completed by means for braking the strap 106 relative to the plate 105. On either side of the plate are disposedtwo discs 111 (Fig. 7) which are caused to bear against the plate 105 and against the strap 106 through the medium of friction members 112 by springs 113 housed between these discs 111 and nuts 114 screwed on rods 115 which pass through.

the assemblage thus formed. Hence, when the shaft 80 is stopped in the position shown in Figs. 3, 6 and 7 (which corresponds to the extreme position of the rearward travelof the thrust means C) itflis possible, owing to the unidirectional coupling between the connecting rods 107 and the thrust means C through the rollers 109 and the hooks 110,, to pivot upwardly the rods 107 by means of handles 106 carried by the straps 106 and thus uncouple these rods from the thrust means C. The latter may now be shifted back in the direction opposite to that of arrow f for cleaning and inspection purposes. The rods 107, which are braked by the friction members 112, maintain their raised position so long as the shaft 80 is not engaged by the clutch. In the course of machine operation, when the shaft 80 rotates in the direction of arrow f and the rods are engaged with the thrust means C, these rods cannot uncouple from the latter, for the friction caused by the friction members 112 tends constantly to rotate the rods in the direction of arrow f and the rollers 109 are held permanently in j the hooks 110.

(2) Feed and gluing device E.-This device, which is located at the left of the machine when the latter is viewed from the input end, is intended to introduce laths automatically and continuously in the feed chamber 43, which should be filled completely without any free space between the laths over the part thereof situated to the left of the abutment formed by the roller 68. This device comprises a fixed table 116 carrying driving and guiding devices for the latch such as that shown at lq in Figs. 2, 4 and 10. This lath Zq forms part of or constitutes the entire first row of a new panel Q which succeeds the practically completed plane P.

The lath driving device includes in combination: a lower roller 117 which is freely rotative about an axis parallel to the longitudinal median plane XX of the machine in the opening 118 of the table-116 (Fig. 5), and an upper driving roller 119 which is fluted, grooved or knurled. This roller is keyed to the end of a shaft 120 which is continuously rotated by an electric motor 121 ome . 3 connected therewith through and a belt 124. Adjacent the pulley 123 the axis of the shaft ispivotal about thecentre of a swivel bearing 125. Adjacent the roller 119 this shaft isjournalled in a second bearing 126 carried by the end of an arm 127 which is pivotal about a horizontal longitudinally extending axis 128. The bearing 126 and in consequence the shaft 120 are urged downwardly by a spring 129. so that the rotative driving roller 119 is urged against the roller; 117. The bearing 126 and the shaft 120 are raisable in opposition to the action of this spring by a pedal 130. The latter is keyed to a spindle131 connected to a crank pin132 which engages a rocker 133 pivotal about a'pin 134. This rocker 133 is connected to the bearing 126 by a rod 135. The rocker 133 may be pivoted'by another means which willbe described hereinafter.

The lath guiding device comprises in combination: two

rollers 136, which are freely rotative about their vertical 138 by means of a rod 140 which is urged in the direction of arrow f by a spring 141. This rod may be moved in the opposite direction, since it is connected, by a crank 142 pivoted to the stand A at 143 (Fig. 5 to the core 144 of an electromagnet 145 which constitutes an auxiliary.

control device.

The feed. circuit of this electromagnet 145 is controlled.

by a switch I (Fig. 11) which is ordinarily held open by a spring 146. This switch is closed when its movable unit is displaced in the direction of arrow i by a block memher 147 secured to one of the links of a chain 148., after' the required number of laths in a panel has been obtained. This chain is driven in synchronism either by the movement of the panel in course of production or, as illustrated,

by the thrust means C, and totalizes by the extent of its displacement the number ofstrokes of the thrust means, which represents the sum of the lath widths or the number of rows of laths introduced in the passageway B, each row or sum of rows being represented by x number of links in this chain. If the chain is connected with the thrust means C, it is passed round a drive sprocket 149 which is connected to the shaft 80 through a reducing gear 149 and a chain 149 (Fig. 5) engaged with sprockets 149 and 149 The chain 148 is furthermore passed round a tension pulley or sprocket 150 whose spindle 151 extends through openings 152 provided in a support 153. The length of the chain 148 may be of any length and may have a single block 147 and x chain links. ly, the chain may have several equispaced blocks situated x links apart. If panels are desired having differing num bers of rows, the distances between the blocks differ.

As will be understood, so long as a block 147 is not in.

contact with the movable member 146 of the switch 1 the electromagnet 145 is not energized and, under the action of the spring 141, the guides 137 and 137aand the roller 139 are held in the positions shown in full line (Fig. 10). Whenthe electromagnet 145 is energized, these members are shifted, in opposition to the action of the spring 141, to the positions shown in dotted line (exaggerated in the drawing for the sake of clarity).

In the position shown in full line, the movable guide dcline .(Fig. 10), the lath, such as lq, is turned to the right- (Fig. 10) andno longer enters into contact with the gluin roller 154. a

The peripheralsurface of the gluing roller 154, which two pulleys 122 and 123 Alternativeis preferably slightly crowned; receives glue from an aren ate opening 157 of a glue-supply conduit-15 8 connected" to the lower end of a glue reservoir-159; Ina preferred arrangement; the unit comprising the conduit 1'58 and' the reservoir 159 is adjustable with respect to the upright 19 by means 'of a screw 160 (Fig. sothat clearance between the gluing-roller 15 i and't'he' opening '157' maybe regulated; Thus the thickness of the 'coating of glue appliedon'this roller and that applied by the latter on the adjaceht leading edges of the laths may be readily con trolled? l 'rhereee device E is completed bya rotative pivotal and oscillable saw 161 situated immediately adjacent the end of"-the -feed chamber 43,"subsfantially in alignment with the longitudinallyextendin'g edge of the passageway- B' which is onthe left of the machine when the latter is viewdfroniits input end.- v I Whe'n'the feed chamber '43 has receiveda row of closely packed 'lath's' withou't any gap between the abutting ends ofthe' latter, this row-being formed; if need 'he,"of"-a' single lath; the lath that extends beyond the re uired length of therow in: the direction of the feed deviceis cut oe'rby this sa'w 161 'f The latter is keyed to a shaft 162 'ournall'ed in a' bearing 163' which is carried bya ba'r -or support=164 extending ina direction parallel to the flongitu'dina'laxis of the machine. This ba'ris connected to the frame by "a universal"connecting'means which allows it'topivot ahollt horizontal andvertical axes: m me illustrated example this bar-is pivotally mounted by a horizontal journal 165 on 'a fork 165' which is in" turn; pivotally mountedi on-a vertical pin- 167'se'cured te -the standA; At its' 'en'd' remotetrom the-s'aw-1'61; the-har 164icarriestwo rollers 168" and 169 (Figs. 4 to 7-) wlfich are adapted' to-rolialong the periphery arid-the lateral face; respectively; of a earn 170' keyed to theshaft 80 and forming part of shifting m'eansfor mate iel; 'I'herolle r's are held'in contactwith thiscamby a spring l7l hobk'ed' tothe' 'end'ofthe bal 164';

The cam" 170 includes on' its"peripherya -re'cess""172 and on' its lateral face' another recess} 173" (Figs; 6 and" 7 The first'rece 's 1721s soarrangedthatj-the whee 16w isen agedmerein'vvhen the shansms stdppe'cfithe' thrust nieans c beingtn the-extreme position of it travel in the-dir e'ction oppo'site' 'to' that of'arrow f In this osition the rollerend of'thehar -MT is lowered" and the saw 161 raised in "such manner that the lowermost pojint of this saw is situated ona leveI' higher-than' the" upper face 'of t he' lath's'itl the'feefil chamber 43". The Sawis ther'efore' shifted awayfrom the lathsand' is inopera tiv'ei' As" soon as" the-roller- 168 moves ou'tofthe r'ecess I 172 upthe can't rise hi"(Fig. 6)', the'saw 1614s progres sively and rapidly lowered and cuts through" the" laths.

'I'he s'econd recess-173' is also arranged in suchmanner that -the ro'ller'l69 is 4 engaged therein when the shaft 80 stops; but this reces's' is extended circumferefitially-roundthis' can'rup'to the point j, so-that duringthe descent or the saw the roller 169:remains in-the-'same"'p'osition and does iiot shift'the bar 164 After a rotation of 'the'cam through-2a certain-"angle from the point j to the p'ointk; the roller i 169 is gradually shifted towards the longitudi nal axis XX- of the machine and this causes the saw to be displaced away from this axis" k Further, at a point adjacent the bearing 163; the bar'- 164 is connected by a rod 174 to the -ro'cker 133 in such 5 manner-'that when the-latter raises-the drive roller-119 the saw -16*1 descends-j Thes saw iS rQtated'by'an electric motor 175thro'ugh a belt 17a.w

Operation of the mabh'ine Therewilf be descrih'ed the cycle of operations forpro ducirig-th'e panel' Q'which follows on the almost corny pletedpattern The machine-will be assumedto' be in just'yhen introduced in the-feed chamber 43"at ri'p' (Fig? Ill 10), the thrust means C "being in its extreme rearward position relati'vet'o 'the laths? I Wherrthe'rownp is'fill'ed with l'aths, this'row is pushed" by the' following la ths which are disposed at IQ and are fed forward by the'roll er 119 in the direction 'of thear row f Hence the row of laths is pushed'against the" abutment 68 ande'nergetically pivots thelever 65 which applies sufiicient force to the lever 72 tooverco'me the inertiaof the weight 7 4. This lever-72' then closes the switch I which cau'ses the-"clutchto'engage-the shaft for one rotation. Aft-hebeginning of this-rotatiorhduif ing which the shaft Shfotates through-the angle m (Fig.1 6), the cam 170 is operative. The roller 168 risesup the camuise hiand this causes the 'saw to descend ands'e'p aratethe r'ow of laths being'fedintdtwo sections n'p' and zqr Duringthis first part-"of 'the rotation of the shaft" 80" the rearward dead: centreposit-ionofthe eccentrics i's passed through and the thrust means C starts its-forward travel inthedirection: of arrow f The'gap p (Fig; 7) existing between-the introducedw row np and the leading: edgel'filofthe thrust mean's is first closed and thereafter 111161211161" pushes' this row into contact with the preceding row which isheldby-ithe: presserplates 40 afterhaving closed the-gap p which existed' between the-rows aften the row 'n'p had beenfed in the feed-chamber 43. Each" fed in;row-n'p is held in positionunder aslight axial pres sure between the abutmentroller 68* and the saw 161.

Simultaneously with this action of the-'thrust me'ans' C- the'roller 169 rollsalonglthe-cam risejk and displaces the saw- 161 (Which-is still in-its "lowered operativepdSition) in the direction of arrow f (Fig; 10);: The saw is thus shifted away frorn'the-row n'p andin so moving- Very slightly pushesbaclg the lath-lg. This is made-possible by the-fact that in the course of" the descent-ofthe saw-the rod 1 74 causedgthe; woken-133 to pivot' and raise'the bearing 12 and; thedriving rollen 119 so that-;the-lathswere no longer fed towardsthe feed chamber 43.;

When the foregoihgha s; been accomplished ihe thrust means C hears morefirmlyagainstthe row n p and pushes it inth e direction-( ithe output end =of thepassageway {B thereby causing this row of laths to engage under-the presser plates 40, which prevent it from returning, and take upl' th' ,positionof the preceding row which is moved forwardunder the retaining plates 35? v The almost instantaneous thrust is considerable; tori t coi'f'espond's'to a artfotthe considerable ene y stored in the fl wheel while it is rotating! freely; This thrust is transmitted to the now completed panel P through the row n'p, which has just't'aken' up its position at up against this an-er- The latter tur transm'its the'thrust to'the precedingfpanel:' Thi's' ap p'li ed pressure is infact' distri hutedover all the rows ofl at hsfo'f the variouspane'ls locatedin-the passageway-B, This latter, on" account of" its narrowed ehtran'ce' and exi'g'ex'erts a'retainingfoi'ce' on the firstrows on the input side thereof and on the last rows on the outpht side The -other' rows'are suh's'tantially* free 'to*m'ove although they are-not completely free in the direction of the thickness of-the panels so as not to impairf'theperfct flatness" of thelatter. owing to-the perfect' 'disttihution ofth-thrus'tover all themows', thegluing obtained between these 'rowsis intimafe'andev'enly distrihutedi It will be observed that if the'glueisthermo settifig'the heating-chambers" forming part ofthe *output side of the passageway B causes this glue to harden so thatthe panels issuing frdrn' the passagewa are rigid an'd' there is no danger of: their laths separating:

While thelast: row- 11pof the panel P is being" fed fo'r ward by the thrustrriearis C, one of the'blo'cks- -147' o'f the clttain 14$- encounters theini'ember 146 off the switch" I and the latter-is closed; Thus, the electromagnet 145* is energized and; in pulling back the rod it causes the guide device137, 137 10 assume the position shownin dotted line'in'Fig. 10 and the lath lq'is shifted'away from the "gluingroll'erlfli 11 r Soon after this has occurred, at the end of the forward travel of-the thrust means C, the stop 103 encounters the crank 162 which is integral with the clutch lever 94. The latter is pivoted towards the clutch and the shaft 80 is disengaged at the end of its rotation through 360, at which point the thrust means C has returned to its ex treme rearward position.

As soon as the clutch is disengaged, the friction members 112 of the eccentric devices brake the shaft 80 by hearing against the straps 106 and the rods 107 connected to the thrust means C, so that the shaft 80 is stopped instantaneously,

A little before the end of the rotation of the shaft 80, the cam 170 raises the saw 161 and moves it in the direction of arrow f thereby returning it to its initial position. This automatically returns the drive roller 119 against the lath lq.

A new cycle of operations or stroke of the machine is started by feeding a lath or laths lq to the feed chamber 43 until the latter is completely filled. The shaft 80 remains disengaged and, in consequence, the guide device 137, 137 and 139 remains in the position shown in dotted line (Fig. so that the lath or laths lq enter the feed chamber 43 without touching the gluing roller 154.-

Thus, the first row lq of the panel P will not include glue on its edge except at 14 (Figs. 2 and 10) along a very short length rs which had already passed by this roller in the previous cycle before the guides 137, 137 and 139 were shifted to their position shown in dotted line by the electromagnet 145.

When the row of laths lq has filled the feed chamber 43, it strikes the abutment 68 and thereby closes the switch I and the shaft 80 is once more rotated by the flywheel 85. The above-described sequence of operations is repeated, at the start of which the block 147 leaves the roller146 of the switch I and cuts ofi the current to the electromagnet 145 so that, under the action of the spring 141, the rod 140 returns the guide device 137, 137- and 139 to its normal position for applying glue to the laths.

The sequence of operations continues normally and the row lq is applied against the row np of the preceding panel P but adheres to the latter only along the short length rs. The following rows of laths have glue applied thereon along their entire length until the last row nq of the panel Q is fed to the feed chamber 43 when the presently described cycle is finished.

It should be understood that in the course of operation the machine may be rendered inoperative by raising the rods 107 with the aid of levers 106a carried by the eccentric straps 106. When the machine has been stopped, any required adjustments may be carried out, for example the position of the abutment 68 may be modified in order to change the dimension 1 of the panels, or the boss or bosses 147 maybe shifted in order to alter the number of rows of laths per panel.

Atlhough a specific embodiment of the invention has been described hereinbefore, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patents is:

1. In a machine for producing panels formed of laths or other squared elements which are in juxtaposed relationship to each other and have a substantially constant cross-section, said machine being of the type which includes a stand and, provided on this stand, a receiving and discharging passageway, a feed device laterally disposed relative to the passageway for feeding one by one to the input end of this passageway successive rows of squared elements disposed transversely of the passageway, gluing means provided in this feed device for continuously gluing said elements, thrust means disposed adjacent the input 12 end of the passageway for displacing in the longitudinal, direction relative to the passageway each row fed by the feed-device and the whole of the work in course of .pro-

said clutch engaging device and combined with said first regulating device for engaging the clutch and rendering; the motive means operative when one row has been fed, to the passageway without any gap between the various squared elements placed end to end, this row consisting contingently of a single element, shifting means includedin-thefeed device for shifting the row of elements fedby the feed device away from the gluing means, a secondregulating device operatively connected with the thrust means and capable of periodically actuating the shifting means in the course of the displacement of a given number p of rows by the thrust means, whereby the unglued rows obtained when the shifting means is actuated serve to divide the rows of elements into distinct panels the lengths of which are regulated by the second regulating device.

2. Machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first regulating device comprises in combination: a slide adjustable in position transversely of the longitudinal direction of said passageway and disposed on said thrust means, a main abutment member pivotally mounted on said slide,

a return spring connecting said abutment member to said,

slide for maintaining the abutment member in a position of equilibrium, and an auxiliary stop for limiting the" pivotal movement of said main abutment member from said position of equilibrium.

3. Machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said driving means comprise a rotative shaft and said control means I for said clutch engaging and disengaging device comprises: an electromagnetic device which when energized causes actuation of the latter so as to cause engagement of the clutch; an electric switch provided with a movable contact and controlling the feed circuit of said electromagnetic device; a pivotal lever capable of acting, after having passed through an inoperative travel from a position of equilibrium, on said movable contact in the direction to close the switch; yieldable means for retaining this pivotal lever in its position of equilibrium in which position said lever is in contact with said main abutment mem--. her, said last-mentioned yieldable means exerting such retaining force on the lever that when said pivotal main abutment member receives, through the medium of a full uninterrupted row of squared elements, the thrust exerted on said row by said feed device, it causes the pivotal lever 1 to pivot through a distance greater than said inoperative travel so that the pivotal lever acts on the movable contact and causes closure of the switch.

4. Machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said clutch engaging and disengaging device comprises in combination: an engaging member movable between a clutch engaging position and a clutch disengaging position; first yieldable means for urging said engaging member into its engaging position; a pivotal disengaging member movable between an inoperative position and an operative position in which latter position it enagegs this engaging member and shifts it into its disengaging position in opposition to the action of said first yieldable means; second yieldable means for urging said pivotal member into its inoperative position and thus permitting the engagement of the clutch by the engaging member under the action of the first yieldable means; locking means for maintaining said pivotal member in its operative position in opposition to the action of said second yieldable means, said locking means being automatically operative when said pivotal member j is in said operative position, and operatively connected to i and under the control of the movable member of said electromagnetic deviceso that when the latter is e'nei'g'ii'cl' the movable mmbefit'herofunlocks-this lockiiigmeans and thus=causes clutchengagement;said thrust means being movable towards and away from sai'd passageway between an advanced-position-and a witlidi'awmposition" relative to the passageway anda return device combihe'd with said thrust me'ans and operatively connected't'o "said pivotal member; said'ret'ur'n' device being capable" of re turning- =said pivotal meinbe r'tosaid operative position' thereof when said thrust means is I substantially in "said advanced position?- 5. Machine as-claimed claim 'I, whereinsaidsecond regulating device comprises in combinationyrow totaliiing means, means for driving the latter in synchronism with the movements of 'said thrustme'ans'so tlia't'it' is displaced by a constant amount each time a row o'fis'qh'ared elements is introduced in said passageway, this-totalizing; means comprising at least one stop which is adjustable in position thereon and is capable'of co-operating'with and" causing actuation of said shifting means each-time n rows are introduced, the value n being regulated by adjusting the position of said stop relative to said shifting means:

6. Machine-as claimed in claim 5,. wherein said'totaliz ing means comprises an endless member; said stop being formed of a block secured to said endless 'member; T

7. Machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein said totalizing means is combined with an auxiliary driving device for actuating said shifting means, the stop of said totalizing means being capable of engaging and starting up this auxiliary driving device.

8. Machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said auxiliary driving device comprises an electromagnet, and a switch which is engaged and closed by said stop of the totalizing means and is disposed in the feed circuit of this electromagnet.

9. Machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gluing means is secured in position and the shifting device comprises a movable guide which in its normal operating position guides the squared elements while they are fed to the input side of said passageway, the gluing means being capable of applying glue to the squared elements in said normal operating position of said movable guide.

10. Machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein said guide is formed of two parallel pivotally mounted blades and a roller carried by one of these blades, and there is provided in combination with this guide a member which connects it to said auxiliary driving device, yieldable return means being adapted to return this guide to said normal position.

11. Machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the gluing means comprises a rotative roller disposed in front of the roller of said movable guide.

12. Machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein this gluing roller is combined with a glue reservoir which is prolonged by a conduit which is terminated by an arcuate opening concentric with said gluing roller, said reservoir and said conduit being adjustable in position so as to permit the thickness of the film of glue applied on said gluing roller to be regulated.

13. Machine for producing panels formed of laths or other squared elements which are in juxtaposed relationship to each other and have a substantially constant crosssection, said machine comprising a stand and disposed on this stand: a receiving and discharging passageway; a feed device laterally disposed relative to the passageway for feeding one by one and adjacent the receiving end of said passageway successive rows of squared elements disposed transversely of the longitudinal direction of said passageway, this device comprising gluing means for continuously gluing said elements; motive means, driving means, a clutch operatively connecting the driving means to the motive means, a clutch engaging and disengaging device to; said clutch, and thrust means for effecting movements towards the passageway for'moving in the longitudinal diifectidirrelative to-the passagewayeaeh row-fed were feed-'deviee,'- this' thr1l'st"m'e' aris c'driipri'sing a horizontal transverse member; paralrer link-s having 1 ends pivonnnt'r being situated in substantially horizontalplane's; and coin plitig'devices o erative in a sing'ledirection coupling said narrsver'se memaer to'S'aLid driving'm'eans.

15. M'ahhirlei as claimed iii" claiin'f 14; wherein eccentrics including a plate and an eccentric str'ap ensure the" -co'nnection" or said connecting rods said rotative shaft, braking'means -bein'g* combined with the" plate and strap for obtaining braltihgfrictihn" between the latter and the plate when it is desired to render said connecting rods rigid with said rotative" shaft.

16?' Mhchine asclainiedih claim- 15; wherein said braking"means-inclndetwofrictien members; two discs, and spririgs'fadaptedth ap'ply' s'aid frictioiimembe'rs against the sidefac'es-of the plateaus strap'throngh' these discs.

17. Machine as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: a first regulating device for regulating the length of the rows, control means for the clutch disengaging device combined with this first regulating device for engaging the clutch and rendering the motive means operative when one row has been fed to the receiving end of the passageway without any gap between the squared elements placed end to end, shifting means included in the feed device for shifting the row of elements fed by the feed device away from the gluing means, a second regulating device operatively connected with the thrust means and operatively connected with the shifting means for actuating the latter each time the thrust means has efiected a given number of movements toward the passageway, whereby the unglued rows obtained when the shifting means is actuated serve to divide the rows of elements in distinct panels the lengths of which are regulated by the second regulating device.

18. Machine for producing panels formed of laths or other squared elements which are in juxtaposed relationship to each other and have a substantially constant crosssection, said machine comprising a stand and disposed on this stand: a substantially horizontal receiving and discharging passageway; a feed device laterally disposed relative to the passageway for feeding one by one adjacent the receiving entrance of said passageway successive rows of squared elements disposed transversely of the latter, this feed device including gluing means for continuously gluing said elements; thrust means disposed adjacent the receiving entrance of said passageway for efiecting movements toward the latter for moving in the longitudinal direction relative to said passageway each row fed by the feed device, motive means, driving means for the thrust means, a clutch operatively connecting the driving means to the motive means, and a clutch engaging and disengaging device, yieldable pressure-applying means for the receiving entrance and the discharging exit of said passageway for exerting localized pressure in the vertical direction on, and thereby to exert frictional resistance to the movement of the rows of squared elements displaced therethrough by the pressure exerted by said thrust means on each row fed to a position adjacent the passageway by said feed device.

19. Machine as claimed in claim 18, wherein said passageway comprises the space provided between two superposed walls the upper wall of which comprises two relatively movable sections of which one is adjacent the en- 15 trance of the passageway and the other adjacent the exit of the passageway, said pressure-applying means exerting pressure on said sections to urge them toward the lower of said walls and thereby exert pressure on the rows of elements passing between said walls, auxiliary yieldable retaining means being disposed immediately adjacent the receiving entrance of the passageway and exerting pressure on the square elements in a vertical direction, the pressure exerted by the auxiliary retaining means being less than that exerted on the elements by said firstmentioned pressure-applying means.

20. Machine as claimed in claim19, wherein the lower wall of said passageway forms a base plate and there are provided a fixed support for carryingthe end of said base plate adjacent the exit of said passageway and adjustable jacks for supporting the other end of said base plate,

said section of the upper wall which is adjacent the exitend of the passageway being supported on the stand and urged downwardly by said pressure-applying means at the end of this section nearest the exit end of the passageway.

21. Machine as claimed in claim 20, further comprising: a first regulating device for regulating the length of the rows, control means for said clutch disengaging device combined with this first regulating device for engaging the clutch and rendering the motive means operative when one row has been fed to the receiving end of the passageway without any gap between the squared elements placed end to end, shiftingv means included in the feed device for shifting the row of elements fed by the feed device away from-the gluing means, a second regulating device operatively connected with the thrust means and opera-p tively connected with the shifting means for actuating the latter each time the thrust means has efiected a given number of movements towards the passageway, whereby the unglued rows obtained when the shifting means is actuated serve to divide the rows of elements into distinct panels the lengths -of which are regulated by the second regulating device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

